"I came out and looked at the little water pond and wow, there were no turtles in there," Moorten told the newspaper. "It's sad, maddening and disappointing."

The list of missing reptiles includes four babies and a 10-year-old, 35-pound African sulcata, Moorten said. The oldest tortoise taken is 40 years old; the largest measures about 16 inches in diameter.

Two baby tortoises were likely in burrows when the thieves struck and were overlooked, Moorten said.

Moorten guessed there was more than one person involved in the theft — the reptiles are "too big to stuff in your pockets," he said, and someone likely handed them over a brick wall surrounding the gardens.

There have been reptile thefts in the past, he added, but never this many taken at once.

Palm Springs police Sgt. Harvey Reed told the newspaper Sunday there was no information about the suspects in the case.

Moorten, who runs the gardens his parents established 74 years ago, told the newspaper his primary concern was that the reptiles wouldn't get the care they need. He's offering a $200 reward for information leading to their return.